IMMIGRATION seems to be a point of contention these days, and too often those wanting it to be a controlled process are branded racist.

There seems to be two strands to this. Potential immigrants fleeing their homelands because of persecution are, of course, welcome to apply here, but the applications should be rigorously checked.

Equally, those wishing to come in for economic reasons should be evaluated, and if they have a valid contribution to make to the national economy, and if there is no British subject available to do the job, they can be approved.

What we don’t need, when the National Health Service, schools and other public services are overstretched, are people coming here as of right, ie from the EU, and placing further burdens on our economy.

Andy Baldock, Heworth Green, York